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Frequently Asked Questions

Below please find answers and specific information to frequently asked questions about graduate study at St. John's University. We wish you all the best as you prepare for graduate study. For additional information, call our Office of Graduate Admission at 718-990-1601 or email gradhelp@stjohns.edu.

Applying

How may I apply to St. John's University?Please view our Apply Now page for more information on graduate application options as well as specific application requirements.

What are the advantages of applying online?Applying online to St. John's is the quickest and most efficient way for you to file your application for graduate study. It takes approximately 30-40 minutes to complete the online form, and it expedites the decision process as well. Online applications are also more easily accessible than their paper counterparts.

If I apply online, will it change the way in which the Committee on Admission views my application?No. Whether the application is mailed in traditional print form or submitted online, you can be confident that our Committee on Admission reviews each application package in exactly the same way. The type of application package has no affect on decisions.

What information must be included with my application to be considered for admission to the graduate program at St. John's?

Provide all official college/university records including diploma/degree conferral

Is the online application the only information I have to submit?Most required documentation can be submitted online with the online application. Official transcripts need to be submitted to our processing center. If the Office of Graduate Admission receives your corresponding information before receiving your online application, the Office will file the information for processing with your entire application.

How long does it take St. John's to make a decision on my application?Every application is reviewed carefully by an individual Committee on Admissions in each department. The decision time varies depending on the department/program to which you apply. We encourage you to apply as early in the process as possible.

What should I write in my statement of goals?Your statement of goals is a personal essay in which you should briefly, but meaningfully, introduce yourself and describe what you hope to achieve by earning a graduate degree at St. John's. For example, applicants may address such topics as why they chose St. John's, what professional steps they plan to take after earning their degree, and the way that they can contribute to the graduate community if accepted.

May I apply for two degrees within the same program?You may apply for only one degree at a time within the same graduate program.

Contact Information

What is the application deadline to submit my graduate application?Most of St. John's graduate programs accept applications on a "rolling admission" basis, allowing you to apply throughout the academic year. Once we receive your application and all necessary documents, we forward them to the appropriate academic department, where it is reviewed by specific Committees on Admission.

However, some programs do have specific application deadlines requiring that all necessary materials be received by a requested date.

IMPORTANT GRE INFORMATION If you need your GRE score reports before November, take the current GRE General Test before August of that year. If you are applying for the Spring semester you will need to take the GRE before August.

What is St. John's official testing code?

The School Code for the Queens and Manhattan campus is 2799.

For Staten Island, it is 2845.

The Peter J. Tobin College of Business:For GMAT codes, go to this site.The GRE code is – 2851 (MS in Management of Risk program only)

Does St. John's require that applicants take the GRE (General and/or Subject Test), or the GMAT, depending on program?There are certain programs at St. John's that require the GRE General exam, while others may require both the GRE General and Subject exam. Check below for a list of those departments. Other departments do not require the GRE's for application consideration. Review the Graduate Bulletin for specific program requirements. The GMAT is required for admission to all MBA and MS programs in The Peter J. Tobin College of Business:

Speech (M.A.)Requires GRE General Exam for those applying for admission to any semester beginning with Fall 2010

Does St. John's only consider standardized test scores and GPA's when evaluating an applicant for admission?St. John's considers applicants' entire admission package when evaluating them for admission, including letters of recommendation; statement of professional goals; academic transcripts; GRE/GMAT scores (if required); and any necessary writing samples.

Financial Aid

Does St. John's offer financial aid to graduate students?At the graduate level, St. John's offers federal student loans. If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you may apply by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is available at our Office of Financial Aid:

Does St. John's offer assistantships and/or fellowships?St. John's offers assistantships (for master's degree students) and fellowships (for doctoral degree students). Under an assistantship, St. John's pays a student's tuition and provides a small stipend in exchange for 15 to 20 hours a week of work for an individual department. Students with assistantships in the humanities work as research assistants, while those with assistantships in the sciences work as teaching assistants. Fellowships are geared specifically toward students in doctoralprograms, who receive full tuition without having to provide any work hours per week.

How do I apply for an assistantship (for master's degree students) or fellowship (for doctoral degree students)?First, an applicant must fill out the Graduate Assistantship/Fellowship Application included in the St. John's application. Candidates for assistantships/fellowships must be applicants for full-time graduate study at St. John's. The student may not work a full-time job while serving as a Graduate Assistant/Fellow. GRE exam scores may be required, depending upon the program of study. If a department or program does not require GRE scores, then they will not be required for consideration for an assistantship within that department or program.

The GMAT is required for applications to The Tobin College of Business (with the exception of the MS in Management of Risk for which the GRE general exam will be accepted).

How do I check the status of my assistantship application?If you have questions concerning assistantships, or would like to know the status of your assistantship application, please contact the dean or director of your intended academic program.

General Questions

How can I receive assistance in the application process?St. John's offers personal, one-on-one interviews with a graduate counselor to discuss the necessary steps needed to apply to our varied graduate programs.

For St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Pharmacy, and the College of Professional Studies, call the Office of Graduate Admission at 718-990-1601, or e-mail a counselor at gradhelp@stjohns.edu.

For The School of Education, contact Kelly K. Ronayne, D.A., Associate Dean, at 718-990-2304, or graded@stjohns.edu.

Is there graduate housing available at St. John's?Yes, please visit our Graduate Housing page for more information.

Do I need a bachelor's degree in the specific field in which I wish to pursue a master's degree?You must possess a baccalaureate degree of some type before entering graduate school at St. John's University. Check our online Graduate Bulletin for specific program information.

In most cases, your bachelor's degree does not have to be in the particular field to which you are applying. However, you do need a sufficient number of undergraduate credits in that field. For most programs, 18-21 undergraduate credits in the field are required to be considered for a specific graduate program.

What should I do if I do not have 18-21 credits in the specific field in which I want to pursue a master's degree?If you do not fulfill the 18-21 undergraduate credit requirement, you may have to take the appropriate number of undergraduate courses at an accredited institution before applying to St. John's graduate programs. Most universities/colleges will allow you to take courses on an undergraduate level without moving toward a degree.